Spies are no longer just in suits and shadows

History · Published 18 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Modern espionage has moved beyond clandestine officers in diplomatic cover. Today, foreign states use businesspeople, journalists, and even criminal gangs to steal industrial secrets or target dissidents. These threats now manifest as large-scale cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and economic espionage, aiming to undermine national security and global prosperity.

The traditional image of a spy—an intelligence officer in diplomatic cover—is only one small part of a much larger, more complex reality. Today, state threats are often conducted by individuals posing as businesspeople, recruitment consultants, or journalists. Foreign nations might employ private security firms or criminal organisations to perform actions for them. Some foreign governments also target dissidents living in the UK to undermine their control at home. These actions can range from simple intimidation to serious physical threats or even assassinations.

States are increasingly targeting the foundations of prosperity rather than just military secrets. This includes stealing industrial and commercial information to fast-track technological capabilities or gain military advantages. Specific sectors of high interest include advanced materials, biotech, and artificial intelligence. Even academic research in STEM and dual-use technologies are prime targets for exploitation. Foreign governments use this stolen data to gain advantages in international relations and intelligence operations. They specifically seek to understand confidential negotiating positions and sensitive policy developments.

Digital spaces now serve as battlegrounds where governments execute large-scale missions with minimal danger to their staff. These cyber-based threats range from stealing sensitive data remotely to using malware to disrupt or damage critical infrastructure, such as manipulating industrial systems or taking websites offline. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre provides specific advice to help the public and businesses defend against these attacks. These agencies also work to disrupt the flow of sensitive information to other countries.

Counterintelligence is now a multi-agency effort involving the UK's MI5, SIS, and GCHQ, as well as the US FBI. These agencies work to protect critical assets in the defense, economic, financial, and public health sectors. A key focus is preventing economic espionage, which costs the American economy hundreds of billions of dollars annually by targeting proprietary products, processes, or ideas. The FBI has recently seen a significant rise in arrests related to foreign counterintelligence. For instance, China-related arrests rose by 88% while Russia-related arrests increased by 26%.

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